Coronavirus - what it means for you

There are no limits to the number of people you can meet, but there are still some rules to deal with coronavirus. 

For example, there are rules about:

• wearing a face mask - check the Scottish government guidance on face coverings
• providing your contact details - when you visit public places, like restaurants, cafés and pubs
• vaccine certificates - check the Scottish government guidance on vaccine certificates
• international travel – check what to do if you’re planning to travel.

There are still things you can do to avoid getting coronavirus and stop it spreading. 

The Scottish government advises that you:

• take care when meeting others – check the guidance for meeting people
• work from home if you can – find out more about going to work
• take a Covid test regularly – how to get a Covid test if you don’t have symptoms on NHS inform
• self-isolate and book a test if you have Covid symptoms - how to book a test if you have Covid symptoms on NHS inform.

Find out more about when you need to isolate on NHS inform.

Help if you can't leave your home

If you're self-isolating and need help, you can call the Scottish government's national assistance helpline on 0800 111 4000, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

You can use the helpline if you don't have help from family, friends or neighbours and you can't access help online.

The helpline will connect you with your local council for support getting:

• food and medicine
• social work services
• emotional support
• support from local volunteer groups.

Find out more about the help you can get on the Ready Scotland website.

Self-isolating if you're vulnerable 

You might be able to get more help if you’ve been asked to self-isolate by the Test and Protect service and you’re at higher risk, like if you’re:

• on the shielding list
• over 70 years old
• disabled
• on a low income.

Contact tracers will ask if you want your local council to phone you to arrange help from your local self-isolation assistance service.

You can get help to:

• get food or medicine
• apply for a self-isolation grant.

Find out more about getting a self-isolation grant. 

If you have less money because of coronavirus

If you have less money because of coronavirus, you might be able to:

• reduce your bills - check what to do if you can't pay your bills or are worried about being evicted. 
• get emergency help with food or energy – you could apply for a crisis grant or get advice about foodbanks and other emergency help. 
• increase your income - for example, you might be able to claim benefits. Check if you can increase your income.

The Scottish government has said you should work from home if you can. 

Check our advice if you're:

• furloughed - find out how the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme works
• looking after children or someone else - check your options if you need to change how you work to care for someone
• worried about working - check what to do if you’re worried about working
• off work because you’re self-isolating – find out what benefits you can get if you're self-isolating.

If you’ve been self-isolating for more than 7 days, your employer might ask for proof you need to stay off work. You should get an isolation note on the NHS website. Your employer shouldn’t ask to see a note until you’ve been self-isolating for at least 7 days.

If you're self-employed and need financial support

You can find out more about:

• the UK government's Self-Employment Income Support Scheme - check if you're eligible for self-employed support
• UK government financial support for businesses on GOV.UK

• Scottish government financial support and updates on the Find Business Support website.

You can also call the Scottish government helpline on 0300 303 0660, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm.

If you're planning to travel

The rules about travel depend on where you’re travelling from and where you're going.

Travelling within the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Ireland

You can travel to other parts of the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Ireland. But you should check what the local rules are before you travel.

Before you travel to a Scottish island, you should:

• take a Covid-19 test 3 days before travelling
• take another test on the day you plan to travel.

Find out how to book a test on the Scottish government website.

Find out more about the travel rules on the Scottish government website.

Travelling abroad

The rules on travelling abroad depend on which country you’re going to. 

Check the Scottish government's guidance on international travel.

If you travel abroad, you should check:

• if the country is allowing people from the UK to enter
• the latest travel advice on the Scottish government website
• what you'll need to do when you come back to the UK - check the rules on entering Scotland from abroad
• if your travel insurance covers medical and travel problems caused by coronavirus.

Travel insurance

If you travel to a country that the UK government considers high risk, your insurance policy might not be valid.

Travelling without valid travel insurance is a big risk. For example, you might have to pay all of your medical bills if you get ill or have an accident.

If you need to buy travel insurance or make a claim, check our advice about travel insurance.

If you've booked a holiday

Check what your travel agent, airline or accommodation provider says about your booking. 

If your booking is cancelled because of coronavirus, contact the company you booked with. You have the right to a refund, or you can choose to rebook the holiday for another time.

You can find out more about getting a refund because of coronavirus.

You can also find out what to do if your package holiday is cancelled.

If you need more help, you can get advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

If your visa is ending and you can't leave the UK

If your visa expires before 30 November 2021, you need to follow the coronavirus visa guidance on GOV.UK. You'll need to give evidence of why you can't leave in time.

For example, you might not be able to leave the UK because:

• you have a medical condition which makes you extremely vulnerable to coronavirus – check if you’re extremely vulnerable on NHS inform
• the country you need to go to won't let you in because of coronavirus
• you can't arrange travel in time.